View from the Sutter Buttes

Adjustments

Iranians are dancing in the streets because they elected Hasan Rowhani, a moderate, president but all major decisions are made by the Mullahs. Will there be adjustments in domestic and international affairs? Ask the man in the street and he says that they have the right to become a nuclear power if they can. To glow or not to glow, that is question. Would they pull back from meddling in Syria and Iraq? Will the US adjust the policy of containment and economic sanctions for Iran? Frankly I have been to Tehran and I can live without Persian rugs and oil. I remember all too well that they took our embassy, held our personnel hostage, and refused to negotiate with President Carter. After President Regan secured their release we still kept millions of dollars of equipment that we had allocated to the government of the Shaw of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi because they took him out and he died in exile.

Yes it was our fault. When we supplanted the Russian influence in Iran we set up the reestablishment of the Shaw. We were doing everything in our power to prop him up just as we did dictators in the Banana Republics and even Viet Nam. A government friendly to us for the oil or whatever resources that they had and we wanted. Yes Virginia, America practiced imperialism as had England, France, Spain, Germany and Russia before us. Then we proceeded to educate them so that they learned how to kick us out and run their own country for themselves.

Unfortunately the poison seeds of exploitation last long and when compounded with a religion of intolerance, repairing peaceful relations is difficult. Nobody remembers that the Shaw was displaced by the Russians and was the rightful ruler of Iran in the first place. The new Islamic Republic only cares about now.

Once again President Obama might extend a trial olive branch to the new leader. Just be careful not to lose his hand doing it.

Doctor Rowhani is himself a cleric that was the chief negotiator on nuclear development. He stated that while he kept talking about it his nation was able to develop a nuclear facility in peace. This is a tried and true Moslem way to deal with an enemy. Distract them with talk while seeking a physical advantage.

In other words the new president will smile and cool the rhetoric but there will be no significant changes in policy. He has stated that there is a serious wound between us that needs to be healed.
Some experts already have determined that Iran has officially told their operatives in Syria to knock it off but they are not listening.

In Syria the fight continues between the Allouite faction of President Assad and the Shia and Al-Qaida forces of the rebels. Sarah Palin said of the mess,”until we get a President that knows what he is doing let Allah sort ‘em out”. (This is a take on the Rangers slogan in Viet Nam for handling the civilians, North Vietnamese, and others; “Kill them all and let God sort them out”. {He knows which ones are his.}) If we wait long enough one side or the other will prevail. The danger is we will lose a chance to side with a moderate winner and chemical and biological weapons may be used. Further sophisticated weapons may fall to the Palestine fighters, PLO, and be used against Israel.

Meanwhile Syrian refugees are flooding into Turkey and Jordan and President Obama has decided to send them more relief supplies. The King of Jordan, whose mother is an American, has asked for our Patriot Missiles and F – 16 fighters to remain in country after joint exercises are completed. Such equipment could be used to establish a no fly zone in Syria and our Marines also there in the Eager Lion Exercises would provide security.

Soviet President Putin does not want us to take sides and has promised Assad anti-aircraft rockets to break a no fly zone. He further insists that Assad has not used chemical weapons nor committed atrocities against his own people. Rather that the rebel forces are cannibals. Why, because he wants to get the oil and gas in the area.